Photo courtesy © Tony Eyre

Express Passenger Steam locomotive 3820

1. Exhibit History

The 38 Class locomotives were the peak of passenger steam locomotive design in Australia. They used a cast steel frame, which incorporated the cylinders and valves, as well as the main air reservoir. The boiler pressure was set at 245 psi, the highest used in Australia. They were the first locomotives in NSW to use roller bearings for the axle-boxes. The simple uncluttered design of the cabin was to become the inspiration of the cabin design for the British Railways Standard locomotives after WW2.

The first five of the class were built by The Clyde Engineering Company of Granville with a streamlined boiler casing. They entered service between 1943 and 1945. The remaining 25 were constructed by the NSW Government Railways workshops at Eveleigh and Cardiff between 1945 and 1949, and were constructed with a more conventional boiler casing.

3820 was built at the Eveleigh Workshops and assigned Builder's Number 172. It was officially placed in service on 27.11.1947.

It was the last 38 class locomotive in regular service, and was withdrawn from regular operations on 29.12.1970 after hauling the afternoon Newcastle Flyer from Newcastle all the way into Sydney.

The locomotive was then transferred to the Rail Transport Museum in January 1971, and held for restricted traffic rail-tour operations until its final withdrawal with the 1973 ban on steam locomotive operations. It participated in the official (?) final steam rail-tour with 3203 and 3526.

3820 was given a "one trip" ticket to assist in the transfer of the Rail Transport Museum from Enfield to Thirlmere in 1975, and has rested at Thirlmere ever since.

2. Collection History

3820 was placed in the NSWRTM Collection by the NSWR in January 1971, as a restricted traffic locomotive (future to be decided when no longer trafficable).

It entered the collection with an AD-60 Class headlight. The locomotive was stripped and repainted by NSWRTM volunteers during 1971, during which all paint was removed - exposing the original 1947 green paint on locomotive & tender. (Someone has got notes & photographs of this paint when it has exposed prior to being stripped. Enquires of long term members may reveal where these records are).

The headlight was replaced with a correct 38 Class unit, and the locomotive was repainted without knowing how the boiler was - leaving the painting squad wondering if 3820 would be scrapped or not. It passed its boiler examination thus allowing it to remain in the NSWRTM Fleet.

3820 was used for a few tours, including a journey to Melbourne with 3801, and the famous 'Last Run' which it triple headed with 3203 & 3526. 3820 wasn't used for any of the three Enfield Steam Extravaganzas.

3820 was given a special one-day boiler ticket in 1975, allowing it to steam to Thirlmere - hauling a load of Museum Exhibits. It was stored at Thirlmere facing South, like all exhibits that went there under their own power. As a static exhibit 3820 was regarded as being in the best mechanical condition of the C-38 Class survivors.

In 1980, the then SRA was to celebrate 125 years of service to NSW. 1243 and 3214 were selected to appear in steam at Sydney Terminal, with 3026T from Cowra and 3102T from Canberra. E 18, 3813's main driving wheel-set and 3820 were chosen to be a static display too.

For 3820, this meant a repaint in Carriage Works - Eveleigh. Minor cosmetic work was undertaken then - sheet steel pop-riveted over rust holes in the tender. The new paint was applied over a basically unprepared surface.

After this brief period in the limelight, 3820 went back to Thirlmere. In the mid 1980s, 3820 was elevated to the role of a core or primary exhibit of the Railway Heritage Collection.

During 1988, 3820 was called to the colours one more time. 3801 had suffered a major failure in Western Australia, whilst engaged on Bi-Centennial Train duties. 3820 supplied its driver's side big end bearing for 3801. A replacement was not refitted until approximately 1993.

During 3830's overhaul, 3820's reversing gear (reversing block and power reverser) were removed and taken to Eveleigh. They were brought back and refitted a few months later.

During this period, 3820 had more cosmetic work carried out. The Museum Display group refitted the side rods to the locomotive, and some rust repairs were effected on the tender (cut and shut with light-gauge steel).

In addition, through contacts at BHP Port Kembla, an A6ET Air Brake Pedestal cover, complete with builder's plates ex Steelworks diesel was obtained. (The only difference being is that the builder's plate is stamped A6PD - for Diesel, in lieu of A6P - this marking easily modified). This was fitted in the mid-late 90's after a quick repaint in gloss black enamel and is complete with the brass acorn nuts which fit the cover to the stand.

Rust holes on the tender were welded up, and the paint being touched up. No further work apart from the occasional wash has been undertaken on 3820 since then.

3. Statement of Significance

Locomotive 3820 is a survivor of the operation of named express passenger trains over the NSW network, and is representative of the ultimate development of the high-speed steam locomotive.

As designed by the Department of Railways the class demonstrated the maturity of the design personnel and their approach, incorporating innovative technology and design.

The advent of this class of locomotive made possible the introduction of all-steel, air-conditioned express trains, attesting to its high technical significance.

Locomotive 3820 remains in ex-service condition having never been restored. Thus it retains a significant amount of evidence for research purposes.